Whip-socket lock.



J. R. SGHWEARS.

WHIP SOCKET LOCK.

JULY 25,1909.

Patented Apr. 1 9, 1910.4

v ZSHEETS SHEBTL wwwa/@f4 4 J. R. SCHWEARS.

WHIP SOCKET LOGK.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 2e, 1909.

955,701 Y Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

- Z SHEETS-SHBET Z.

JOI-IN R. SCHWEARS, OF SUNMAN, INDIANA.

WHIP-SOCKET LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Application led July 26, 1909. Serial No. 509,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. ScHwnARs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sunman, in the county of Ripley and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whip-Socket Locks, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in whip sockets, and has for its object to provide a device of this character by means of which the whip may be supported upon the dashboard of a buggy or like vehicle wit-hin convenient reach of the driver.

A further object is to provide new and novel means by which the whip may be locked in the socket to prevent the possible theft of the same.

A further object is to provide an eX- tremely simple and novel locking mechanism which may be instantly operated to release the whip when it is desired for use.

lVith these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specic structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved whip lock removed from the socket, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view show- -ing a whip locked in position, Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the socket open and the whip removed therefrom, Fig. l is a vertical section taken on the line 1 4 of Fig. 2, the lock being' shown in the whip socket, Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the device being shown unlocked and the key therein, Fig. 6 is a. detail perspective view of the spring locking plate, Fig. 7 is a similar' view of the keeper, Fig. S is a like view of the pivoted locking bar.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the top and bottom plates of a cylindrical locking member, which plates are suitably spaced apart by means of an annular spacing block 2. The bottom plate is provided with depending spring plates 3 by means of which the device is secured in the bottom of the whip socket which is secured to the dashboard of the vehicle. An opening 4; is formed in the bottom plate 1, and an opening 5 of suitable size extends through the center of the top plate and the block 2, through which the whip is inserted. Pivoted upon the bottom plate is the locking bar 6, which extends eXteriorly of the casing through the recess 7 in the spring plates 3, and an opening in the socket casing. rlhe bar 6 extends beyond the center of the casing and has secured to the end thereof, one end of a coil spring 8, the other end of which is secured to the metal plate 9 which is secured to the base` plate 1. The plate 9 is formed into a keeper 10 adjacent to the opposite end thereof, and is adapted to limit the movement of the locking bar 6 in the operation of the device.

At a point adjacent to the center of theT casing, the edge of the bar (3 is provided with a slightly arcuate recess 11, which is adapted to engage around the reduced end 12 of the socket member 13 which is adapted to be suitably secured in the butt of the whip. The extreme end of the member 13 is preferablyformed with a semispherical head 14 of slightly larger diameter than the reduced portion thereof, and it will be seen that when the whip is in position, the recessed edge of the pivoted bar 6 will be held securely in contact with the reduced portion of the member 13 between the shoulders 13 and 14. To secure the whip in this position, I have provided a suitable locking means which comprises the spring metal plate 15, which is angular in form and is suitably secured at one end thereof to one of the plates 3. The inner end of the plate 15 is downwardly flanged as at 16 and engages with the lug 17 formed upon the edge of the pivoted bar 6. A slot 1S is provided in the bottom plate 1 above the plate 15 which communicates with a recess 19 in the block 2. An opening is also formed in the lower end of the socket casing through which the key 20 is inserted. This recess 19 is of such proportion that it will readily receive the shank and lug 21 of the key when the same is inserted in parallel alinement with the base of the casing. After the key has been inserted into the recess 19, it is turned, whereupon the lug 21 of the key will descend through the slot 18. Upon the engagement of the lug of the key with the top of the plate 15,

the lug 17 and flange 1G on the spring end of the plate l5 will be disengaged. The spring S will now throw the end of the pivoted locking bar outwardly and disengage the recessed portion thereof from the reduced end of the socket member 13. It will thus be seen that the whip may readily be removed therefrom. Then it is again desired to place the whip in the holder, it is only necessary to insert the same through the opening in the top of the casing, and to operate the bar 6 until the recessed portion thereoitis again brought into contact with the end of the member 13. Upon the removal of the key from the slot 18 in the bottom plate l, the spring plate l5 will again resume its normal position and engage the lug 1T formed upon the edge of the bar 6. lhus the whip will be securely locked in the socket against any movement, accidental or otherwise.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a whip socket of very simple and inexpensive construction wherein the whip will be securely held against theft in the absence ot the owner. It will also be noted that the device is of very small proportions, and will occupy but little room in the base of the whip socket, which may conveniently be secured in some out-of-the-way place where it will not be an annoyance to the entrance or exit of persons to or from the vehicle.

My improved whip socket may be very inexpensively constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and as there are but few parts necessary in the construction and operation of the same, it will be readily seen that the socket will not soon get out of order or be easily clogged up and rendered inoperative by dirt or dust which may be collected therein.

As before stated, the locking member is designed to be placed in the bottom of the ordinary whip socket, and when so positioned will be securely held against removal by the spring plates 3, which bind against the walls of the socket casing.

Vhat is claimed is:

l. In a whip socket, the combination with a cylindrical lock casing disposed in the bottom of the socket, of a locking bar pivoted to the bottom of said casing and projecting through a slot formed in the side thereof, a keeper plate secured to said casing to limit the movement of said bar, an opening being centrally formed through said casing and adapted to receive the reduced lower end ot a whip, a recess in one edge of said locking bar, a spring plate secured to the side of said casing and adapted to normally retain the recessed edge of said bar in engagement with the reduced end ot' said whip, means for releasingsaid spring plate from engagement with said bar, and means for removing said bar from engagement with said whip.

2. In a whip socket, the combination with a lock casing disposed in the bottom of the socket, a plurality of spring plates depending from the base of said casing, a bar pivoted upon the bottom of said casing and extending through a slot in said plates and in the socket, a keeper plate secured to the bottom of said casing and adapted to limit the movement of said bar, a coil spring secured to the inner extremity of said bar and to said plate, a socket formed in the bottom of said casing adapted to receive the reduced lower end of a whip, a lug formed upon one edge ot' said bar, a spring plate secured to the side of said casing and provided with a ange at its inner end to engage said lug, a slot in the bottom of said casing above the t'ree end of said plate, a recess in said casing communicating with said slot, an opening in the socket registering with the recess, said plate being adapted to retain said locking bar in engagement with the reduced end ot' said whip, and a key adapted to be inserted in the slot in the bottom of the casing and engage said spring plate to release the same from engagement with said locking bar.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature, in presence ot two witnesses.

JOHN R. SGI-IIVEARS.

Vitnesses LYNN C. BIGNEY, WINNIE BIGNEY. 

